“There wasn’t a pre-selection,” he said.

“Pre-selection was never going to happen. Ursula has been playing this all year.

“She has played it well and that’s what angers me most, the pretense of it all.

“It’s not only me, but there are others in the (Goulburn) branch who are upset by this.

Ursula did not have the support of everyone.”

He said a Sydney journalist contacted him with the claim that Labor headquarters would chip in $50,000 to the Goulburn campaign kitty if Dr Stephens was the candidate.

“I can’t substantiate that, but if it’s true, how in the world can an ordinary member of the party with intentions of preselecting compete with that? “No one had a chance.”

Dr Stephens said there has been no discussion about specific amounts.

“The SEC (State Electoral Council) will contribute half and head office will contribute half,” she said.

Mr Saville, a Goulburn Mulwaree councillor and school teacher, ruled out running as an independent.

He said Dr Stephens will still have his backing – but there was a caveat.

“Her involvement and past involvement, particularly with the Rudd/Gillard faction fighting has sullied her candidacy,” he said.

“She has to distance herself from that and show that she and Labor have moved on from those times.”

Mr Saville revealed he had written his pre-selection statement in March.

“I had it all prepared … what I had planned was to not allow Pru Goward to call the tune,” he said.

“I wanted to raise issues relating to law and order, education, health and nursing.

“I think I would have given her a real run.”